Mangling

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mangle \Man"gle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Mangled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Mangling}.] [A frequentative fr. OE. manken to main, AS.
     mancian, in bemancian to mutilate, fr. L. mancus maimed;
     perh. akin to G. mangeln to be wanting.]
     1. To cut or bruise with repeated blows or strokes, making a
        ragged or torn wound, or covering with wounds; to tear in


        cutting; to cut in a bungling manner; to lacerate; to
        mutilate.
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              Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.
                                                    --Milton.
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     2. To mutilate or injure, in making, doing, or performing;
        as, to mangle a piece of music or a recitation.
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              To mangle a play or a novel.          --Swift.
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